Dwan's Live Play on Poker After Dark

[pokerbucket]

I was watching the new poker after dark episodes from the past two weeks and it was pretty amazing how well Dwan did. It looked like he was winning about 70% of the hands he played. Keep in mind this table was 6 handed. If he had any 2 suited cards he always raised if he was first or if everyone folded to him. I also noticed he rarely reraised preflop. I think the thing that makes Dwan so great is that you really don't know what he might have because his range is so wide but he also plays that range really well. He was caching cards like crazy but he was also playing very aggressive. He hardly ever check raised. He either kept betting or just slowed down when he needed too. I think the player that played the worst again him was Daniel. Daniel's play against Dwan was very predictable and straight forward. I saw Daniel check raise on the flop a lot with a strong hand and he basically just gave Dwan all the info he needed. Sure Daniel will get some more $ here because Dwan almost always does a continuation bet but I think he could have made a lot more if he varied his play more. Dwan was making most of his money but betting the entire way and just getting called down. Since he is always aggressive he get a lot of marginal hands to call him all the way down. I honestly think his isn't the best strategy. I rarely saw someone slow play a big hand against him in these episodes. I always knew that Dwan was good because he has won a lot of money but it was really cool to watch his play in this last session because at times it really did seem like art.

Daniel and Hellmuth were definitely the fish in that game.

[C8H10N4O2]

I agree. Daniel actually said he knew he'd be the fish in the game, that he was just hoping to make enough money on the side to cover things. Ironically Daniel came out slightly ahead in poker, but very behind in all the props. Hellmuth is 100% oblivious that he is the sucker at the table. He actually seems to completely believe he has the edge and he simply doesn't.

[EliminateU]

I agree. Daniel actually said he knew he'd be the fish in the game, that he was just hoping to make enough money on the side to cover things. Ironically Daniel came out slightly ahead in poker, but very behind in all the props. Hellmuth is 100% oblivious that he is the sucker at the table. He actually seems to completely believe he has the edge and he simply doesn't.

Hellmuth has won alot on previous PAD cash games. He actually made over $250k in the last one. And he had terrible luck, flopping top set to a miracle straight there is no one that lays that down. His big mistakes were re-raising pre-flop with junk hands a couple times and playing too tight. But the worst player had to be Peat, plus he just looks like a complete tool.

[pokerbucket]

Dew-

I am not sure if Hellmuth REALLY thinks he has an edge or is just saying it for the cameras. Phil has a huge ego as we know and it has worked to his advantage. He has gotten tons of sponsorships because of it and I have to admit that I love watching him play because you never know what is going to happen. A few years back some pro ( I can't remember who ) said that Phil had tricked the entire country into thinking he is the best player in the world. All I know is that Phil has a ton of money and can afford to play in these games whether he wins or loses. The persona of Phil has always been I am the best no limit holdem player in the world and just cause he says it doesn't necessarily mean he believes it. There is no way you will catch him saying he is the best at tournaments but sucks at cash games.


EliminateU-

Phil did get unlucky with the set of 10s but that fool went on major tilt after that... that junk he was raising with made a random Dwan hand look like pocket aces. Part of poker is playing well under all conditions and Phil failed big time here. I have mixed feelings about Peat. I have seen him play well in the past but he seems like a fairly predictable player. Seriously though...WTF is he doing blue hair? What is he 15 years old? Plus his hair is thinning so you can see his scalp... I hope he lost a bet and didn't choose to do that on his own. Do you know if Peat got all his money from poker or from elsewhere?

[C8H10N4O2]

Hellmuth has won alot on previous PAD cash games. He actually made over $250k in the last one. And he had terrible luck, flopping top set to a miracle straight there is no one that lays that down. His big mistakes were re-raising pre-flop with junk hands a couple times and playing too tight. But the worst player had to be Peat, plus he just looks like a complete tool.

Yeah, one session of winning at cash games does not equal a great player. I've seen Phil routinely make terrible plays at the cash tables. He makes plays that would be acceptable in a tournament format but are terrible for cash. He was way out of his league in that line up. Actually watch his play and see how poorly he plays hands. It's terrible. He even finished this last week claiming that he played beautiful poker. Sure the TT vs 86 hand was standard, but he had so many other leaks. It just honestly amazes me that Hellmuth thinks he's a favorite there.

On a side note, to argue that Phil is fantastic at tournament poker... have you actually looked at his PAD tournament finishes? He has won 2 of 13 appearances. I really don't understand how anyone who understands poker would defend him to the end. I'm not saying Phil is a terrible player, but in that line up, Phil is definitely near the bottom. I also don't know what exactly you are saying by "won a lot"... are you meaning he has won "a lot of money" or "a lot of the time"?

He pretty much negated his winnings this last episode as well... what did he end up losing, $280k or so after he pays Daniel off?

[travz21]

Durrrr owns practically the entire world when he's in position, which is why he plays so many hands. If he can buy the button, he's putting in a raise. I was kind of surprised of the lack of 3betting in position, or even out of position for that matter. It seems like the nosebleeds like to play most of their poker post flop, which makes poker more skillful.

I love the way Dwan value bets 2nd or 3rd pair and how he can scare weak players into folding. Daniel and Hansen played pretty pathetically. I don't even want to mention uber nit Hellmuth.

It's pretty clear that Antonius, Ivey, and Durrrr were miles ahead of the rest of the table. I swear Hellmuth only knows how to give off false physical tells and actually knows nothing about betting tells. His bluffs don't make sense, his value bets don't make sense, and all his anti-tells backfire.

[pokerbucket]

Durrrr owns practically the entire world when he's in position, which is why he plays so many hands. If he can buy the button, he's putting in a raise. I was kind of surprised of the lack of 3betting in position, or even out of position for that matter. It seems like the nosebleeds like to play most of their poker post flop, which makes poker more skillful.

I love the way Dwan value bets 2nd or 3rd pair and how he can scare weak players into folding. Daniel and Hansen played pretty pathetically. I don't even want to mention uber nit Hellmuth.

It's pretty clear that Antonius, Ivey, and Durrrr were miles ahead of the rest of the table. I swear Hellmuth only knows how to give off false physical tells and actually knows nothing about betting tells. His bluffs don't make sense, his value bets don't make sense, and all his anti-tells backfire.

I remember watching Hansen for the first time back in 2003 on the WPT and Mike and Vince were going crazy and couldn't believe the junk he was playing. Things have definitely changed. The range of hands for Hansen and Dwan may be similar but in my opinion Hansen can only play well against amateurs and Dwan can win against anyone... no wonder Hansen lost 9 million this year playing online and said he is taking a break for a while to regroup.

http://www.highstakesnews.com/2009/1...ak-from-poker/

[uofmichrn]

I find it interesting that all these players are being judged by those who do not and never will be able to play at that level for whatever reason. To say any of them are nits or awful I find to be hilarious, any of those players would destroy anyone on this site or even in this thread in my opinion.

[liladypokerpro]

I find it interesting that all these players are being judged by those who do not and never will be able to play at that level for whatever reason. To say any of them are nits or awful I find to be hilarious, any of those players would destroy anyone on this site or even in this thread in my opinion.

And you have the right to pass this judgment why exactly? Considering you, too, are here... with everyone else who is here... I assume you include yourself in your statement...

Just as you have stated your opinion, everyone else here has the same right to state theirs, about whomsoever and whatsoever they choose. Keep this in mind in the future.

[C8H10N4O2]

I find it interesting that all these players are being judged by those who do not and never will be able to play at that level for whatever reason. To say any of them are nits or awful I find to be hilarious, any of those players would destroy anyone on this site or even in this thread in my opinion.

I also don't think anyone has personally said "I could destroy that guy, he's terrible. I am so much better than he is." However, most of us know enough about poker to be able to understand that someone is getting outplayed regularly. Hellmuth's play at that table was absolutely terrible. He had one standard hand where he got in bad, but the rest of his play was just terrible. Do I think my play would be better? Heck no. Does that change my ability to observe that Hellmuth got outplayed? No.

How often in sports do people comment on a pro-player's decision/play or anything else? I enjoy football, and have on numerous occasions mentioned how terrible of a play X player just made. Do I think I can play better than they can? Absolutely not. However, am I at least aware that X player was not playing at the same level as someone else... definitely.

If you don't want to attempt to analyze other players' play, especially when you get all the benefit of seeing their hole cards, then I wish you the best of luck at the tables because you are going to need it.

[travz21]

Hellmuth fits the definition of a nit. It's not even an opinion. And I'll say it again, he couldn't beat nl400 online unless he played 1 table. Even then I think it would be close.

We're not judging any one hand. The play at nosebleeds is so different than what we are used to. I don't feel qualified to say if they played it badly or not. But overall, when you can see a trend happening, it's safe to say someone is getting owned.